Street sweepers



May 17. 1955 J. Amos ETAL STREET SWEEPERS J, ANTOS ETAL STREET SWEEPERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1955 Filed June 8, 1949 QN Nk May 17, 1955 J. ANTos ETAL 2,708,280

STREET swEEPERs Filed June 8, 1949 5 sneaks-shea*L s 6 Inl/en iorJ' May 17, 1955 J. ANTos ETA. 2,708,280

STREET swEEPERs Filed June 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L53 5e/A L5eA "Q54" f/Tiy- In ven OPJ STREET SWEEPERS 5 Sheets-Shee 5 Filed June 8, 1949 E 111| H. \\1\9\ wm a Mm \m c FH m mf NN MVIS m\ Ill KH |.l nl M NH III\Q f., M 111| N I1! nj. NN 10N QN In ven ors dass/:H ,4A/ros United States Patent STREET SWEEPERS Joseph Antes and Edwin C. Brown, Aurora, lll., assignors Y to Austin-Western Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,843

13 Claims. (Cl. 15-83) Our invention relates to improvements in street sweepers, and particularly of the type where the rear sweeping broom is adapted to contact deecting means which causes the dirt picked up by the broom to be thrown into a dirt receptacle, similar to the mode of operation disclosed in Wilson and Antos Patent 2,286,245.

One of the objects ot this invention is to provide improved means to permit the rear sweeping broom to oscillate up and down, whereby in the sweeping operation to remove substantially all of the dirt from an uneven roadway.

Another object of this invention is to provide irnproved actuating vmechanism and control means for controlling the position of a movable dirt receptacle bottom and for causing the movable dirt receptacle bottom to contact the rear broom and raise this broom and the drag wings to transport position when carrying the load to a point of dumping. 1n this transport position, the rear broom is not rotating, but is functioning in the manner of a tail gate at the rear edge of the movable dirt receptacle bottom for holding the dirt thereon during trans- Ort. p In this regard, another object of the invention is to provide improved indicating means at the operators station to advise the operator as to the position of the movable dirt receptacle bottom with respect to the rear broom.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means whereby the rear broom can be removed from its supports and controls without disturbing the driving or controlling mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide two gutter brooms and an improved pivotally mounted semicircular bathe plate located at the front of the rear broom between the two gutter brooms; also to provide improved control means to rotate the baiile plate to permit the side opposite to the operating gutter broom to contact the roadway, thus confining the dirt to a windrow or path in line with the rear broom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water receptacle at the top of the sweeper, together with irn- .t

proved control means to control the release of the.,water to sprinkle the roadway and prevent dust.

Another obiect of this invention is to provide a pipe to extend upwardly in the water receptacle to 'which a hose can be connected, together with improved means at the lower end of the pipe to spray water and thereby clean sticky dirt from the rear broom and the dirt receptacle.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a construction which is simple, e'h'icient and easy to assembly and operate,and which will have other advantages as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides iu the combinatioinconstruction and arrangement of parts ,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while we have shown therein a preferred embodiment it is understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation or" the sweeper showing the brooms in normal working position and showing the gutter broom drive in cross-section.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of one of the drag wings, taken approximately on the plane of the line 2 2 orr Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing a cross-section of the rear broom, dirt receptacle, movable bottom and water container, and illustrating the loading position of the rear broom and movable bottom.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the rear broom, deilector and movable bottom with the load in a carrying position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross-section similar to Figure 4 showing the positions of the rear broom, the deector bar and the movable bottom of the dirt receptacle when dumping the load;

Figure 7 shows a rear view of the machine with the side covers removed, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken approximately on the plane of the line 7 7 of Figure l;

Figure 8 is a partial front View of the machine showing one gutter broom in operating position, and the baffle plate in position to guide the dirt to the rear broom;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the power and control means for operating the rear driving wheels, the rear broom and the gutter brooms, the rear broom being illustrated in axial section;

Figures l0 and ll are corresponding right and left detail sectional views showing the manner of attaching and detaching the right and left ends of the rear broom;

Figure l2 is a fragmentary detail sectional View showing the arrangement for operating the clutches of the selective speed control mechanism;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail sectional View showing one of the two adjustable link connections which support opposite ends of the rear broom, and

Figure 14 is a view of this same link connection taken at right angles to the plane of Figure 13.

As shown in Figures l, 3, 4, 6, and 9, the frame of the sweeper is composed of two side sills, 1, 2 riveted or welded to the end of the material carrying receptacle or hopper 3. Mountedl on these side sills 1 and 2 are the power plant 4 and the selective speed transmission S.

The material carrying receptacle or hopper 3 comprises two side plates 6 and 7, a curved end plate 8 and a top plate 9, the latter also forming the bottom of the water container 1). The walls of the water container 10 are defined by the upper portion of the material 'receptacle sides 6 and 7, and also by end plates 11 and 13 and a top plate 12, the latter being provided with a door 14. The rear portion of the material receptacle or hopper 3 has a hinged door 1S which permits access to a rear broom cover 16, the latter having a exible rubber connection to the adjacent plate 11 by a rubber sheet 16. This cover 16 for the rear broom is connected to right and left hand broom lifting plates or levers 17 and 17A by a rod 1S. As will be later described, the right and left lifting levers 17 and 17A have pivotal mounting on short pivot studs or shafts 29, 29A which rotate in bearings Si) and 30A (Figure 7) secured to the inner sides of the side plates 6 and 7. The rear broom 19 has broom core hubs 20 (Figures 9 11) fastened by bolts 21 to the broom core 22. The broom core hubs 20 have holes 23 tapped for bolts 24, which ,connect the outwardly projecting stub axles 25 to the broom core hubs 20. The stub axles 25 of this rear broom have rotatable mountiny in bearing hubs carried at the rear ends of right and left hand drag links 26 and 26A, the forward ends of these drag links being pivotally connected to the side plates 6 and 7, orto the frame of the machine by pivot bolts of studs 26', one of which is illustrated in Figure l. The right hand drag link,26, is tubular and houses a drive shaft 27 which transmits a drive to the rear broom 19 through bevel gearing 27 enclosed within a gear housing 2'7" at the rear end of the tubular drag link 26. Referring particularly to Figures l() and 1l, it will be seen that the rear broom 19 can be easily removed without disturbing the mounting of the drag links 26 and 26A or disconnecting the drive shaft 27, by merely releasing the bolts 24 from the broom hubs 26 and springing the drag links 26 and 26A outwardly to free the broom therefrom.

This rear `broom is adapted to be lifted from the sweeping position shown in Figure l to the transport position shown in Figure 4 and finally to the load dumpingposition shown in Figure 6 through the operation ofV the above described right and left lifting levers 17,

17A, which, as'previously described, are pivotally sup- Y ported by the short shafts 29, 29A rotating in bearings 30, 38A carried by the side plates 6 and 7. These lifting levers 17, 17A are secured to the outer ends of the shafts 29, 29A and are disposed on ythe outer sides of the side plates 6 and 7, while the inner ends of these shafts 2.9, 29A have deector bar arms 2S, 2SA rigidly secured thereto and disposed on the inner sides of the side plates 6 and 7, whereby the lifting links 17, 17A and the i deector bar arms 2S, 2SA always pivot together around theV axis of the shafts 29, 29A.V Extending transversely between the lower ends of the deflector bar arms 28, Y 28A is a deiiector bar 31 against which the sweeping described. The downwardly extending arms of these lifting levers are pivotally connected with the right and left hand ends of the broom through adjustable link connections indicated generally at 32, 32A. As shown in detail in Figures 13 and 14, each of these adjustable links or rods 32, 32A comprises a threaded shank 32b, having an apertured eye 32e at its lower end which is pivoted by pivot Y stud 32d to the adjacent drag link 26A at the left hand side of thefmachine, or to the tubular drag link 26 or bevel gear housing 27' at the right hand side of the machine. Passing down over the upper end of the non-rotating threaded shank 32b in spaced relation thereto is a rotatable sleeve 32e which carries a rotating handle 32f Vat its upper end, and has a threaded nut 32 welded to its lower end. The internal threads of this nut screw over the threads on the upper end of the shank 32h. The bottom side of the nut 321' abuts against the top of a pivoted stop collar 32g, which is provided with a laterally projectift() ing pivot-pin 32h that has pivoted mounting in the rearwardly extending arm of the adjacent lifting lever 17 or 17A, as clearly illustrated in Figure 14. A shielding sleeve 32j extends down from the stop collar 32g in spaced relation to the shank 32h. When the rearbroom is in a raised position out of contact with the pavement (Figures 4 and 6) allof the weight ofthe broom exerts acontinuous downward tension through the threaded shank 32b at each side of the broom; and when the broom is in its lowermost position in sweeping engagement with the pavement (Figure l) a substantial part of the weight'of the broom is still exerting a downward tension on the threaded shank 3217 at each side of the broom. This downward pull on the threaded shank is transmitted to the threaded nut 32:' through the threaded connection between the shank and the nut, and hence this downward pull continuously holds the nut 32 pressed against the stop collar 32g'which has the pivoted attachment at 32h to the adjacent lifting lever 17 or 17A. It will be seen that by reason of this continuous downward tension transmitted through the threaded shank 32h, rotation of the sleeve 32e and nut 321' causes the shank 32b to be Y' moved upwardly or downwardly within the nut '321' and stop collar 32g, so as to decrease or increase the distance between the lower pivot stud 32d and the upper pivot pin 32h mounted in the lifting lever. This enables either the right side or left side of the broom 19 to be separately adjusted with respect to the deilector bar 31 (through the lifting levers 17, 17A and deiiector bar arms 28, 23A)V whereby to obtain the proper pressure between the broom bristles and the deliector bar, and also to effect successive adjustments between the broom and detector bar as wear of Vthe broom occurs. The rotating handles 32]c for making these adjustments are conveniently accessible, and

can be actuated while the broom 19 is revolving.

Disposed on each side .of the machine just beyond the ends of the rear broom 19 are drag wings 33,Y 33A which are adapted to prevent outward projection of the dirt when the broom. is in' sweeping position (Figure l).

These drag wings are adapted to be raised and lowered through the instrumentality of substantially vertical links 3S, 35A which have their upper ends pivoted to levers or rocker members 34, and which have their lower ends pivotally connected to pivoted drag arms 161 from which the drag wings'are suspended. As shown in Figure 2, the drag wings 33 and 33A follow directly in line with their respective hopper side plates 6 and '7. Provision is made for lifting the drag wings out of contact with the street when the rear broom 19 is raised to transport` position, as shown in Figure 4. This is accomplished by compression springs 35b carried by each of the lifting links 35,` 35A and arranged to have upward thrust imparted to their lower ends by upward movement of the drag links 26, 26A when the broom 19 is raised to transport position, as shown in Figures 4 andr.

Referring now to the double acting hydraulic cylinders 36 and 36A which operate to raise and lower the rear broom 19, these cylinders are disposed outside of each side plate 6 and 7 and are mounted'for endwise sliding and vertical tilting movement in brackets 37 and 37A which are attached to the side plates. Springs 33 and 38A surround the outer ends of these hydraulic cylinders and act between the brackets 37, 37A and the cylinder heads 41 on the upper ends of the cylinders. The piston rods 39 and 39A extending out of the lower ends of YVthese hydraulic cylinders are pivotally connected at 4) to their respective lifting levers 17, 17A. The springs 3S and SSAeXert a continuous upward thrust onV the hydraulicY cylinders 36, 36A, the latter being free to slide in their mounting brackets 37, 37A, as above described, whereby this spring mounting permits either side of the rear broom 19 to oscillate up and down, thereby sweeping dirt or refuse out of depressed surfaces, as well as from level surfaces in the pavement. Theintroduction of hydraulic pressure either to the lower ends or to the upper ends of the cylinders 36, 36A enables the piston rods 39, 39A to be actuated in either direction for swinging the lifting levers 17, 17A upwardly or downwardly.

plate 7, the forward end of the cylinder being provided with a head bracket 43 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 44 projecting laterally from the side plate 7. The piston rod 45 of this cylinder is pivotally connected to a crank arm 46 by pivot pin 47, this crank arm or lever 46 being secured to the left hand end of a transverse shaft 48 which extends between and through the side plates 6 and 7, and is journaled in bearings carried by these side plates. Secured to this transverse shaft 48 just inside of each side wall 6, '7 are downwardly extendini7 arms 50, 50A which have the curved movable bottom 49 secured to their lower ends. Thus it will be seen that by energization of the double acting hydraulic cylinder 42 in the appropriate direction, the load carrying bottom 49 can be swung between any one of three positions, namely the loading position illustrated in Figure 3, the transport position illustrated'in Figure 4 and the dumping position illustrated in Figure 6. An indicating rod 51 is pivotally connected at its lower end to thevactuating lever 46 and has its upper end extending to a position adjacent the operators station 52, so that the operator can tell from the position of this indicating rod 51 the position of the movable bottom 49, so as to determine whether it is in loading, transport or dumping position.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, we have shown the present street sweeper as provided with two gutter brooms 53 and 54 located near the forward end of the vehicle. On the center line between these two gutter brooms is located a semi-circular or arcuate baille plate 55 having two flexible side wings 56 and 56A. The rear end of the baille plate 55 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 57 by a pivot pin or bolt SS (Figure l), this bracket being secured to the front plate 8 of the dirt receptacle. rl`his pivotal mounting permits the arcuate baiile plate 55 -to be tilted downwardly toward right or left, depending upon whieh gutter broom 53 or 54 is contacting the roadway, as indicated by the full line and dotted line positions illustrated in Figure 8. On the under side of the frame sill 2 is welded a bracket 59, having L a slotted vertical hole to permit up and down movement therein of a notched link 6G which has its inner end pivoted to the center of the top of baiile plate 55. This notched link can be raised to released position and then shifted inwardly or outwardly io engage a different notch with the bottom of the siotted hole in bracket 29, whereby to control and hold the baille plate 55 in the proper position to prevent the dirt swept by either gutter broom 53 or 54 from being thrown out of the desired central path or windrow in line with the rear broom 19. Figure 8 illustrates in full lines the positions' of the baflle plate 55, lexibie side walls 56 and 56A and the notched rod 60 when the right hand gutter broom 53 is contacting the roadway during the sweeping operation, it being noted that the right hand flexible side wall 56 is raised to permit the left hand flexible side wall 56A to contact the roadway and cause the dirt from the broom 53 to be confined or directed backwardly into the line of travel of the rear broom 19. Conversely, by raising the right hand gutter broom 53 and lowering the left hand gutter broom 54 into contact with the roadway, and moving the notched rod 6i? toward the center of the sweeper, the left hand ilerible side wall 56A will be raised and the rig it hand flexible side wall 56 will be lowered into contact with the road- .j

way, as shown in the dotted line positions, thus reversing the action with respect to the dirt thrown inwardly by the left hand gutter broom. The substantial span of the arcuate plate 55 acts as a ceiling to restrict the dust cloud thrown by the gutter broom from rising to the operators position, the power plant, etc.

Referring now to the adjustable mounting of each gutter broom, the upwardlly extending drive shaft 119 of each broom is journaled in a shaft housing 62 or 62A carrying a bevel gear set 111 in its upper end for driving broom to its raised position.

the shaft. The forward pushing or propelling force of the vehicle is transmitted to the shaft housing and gutter broom through a compression strut 112 (Figure l) which has its rear end pivoted to the vehicle body on a horizontal pivot stud 114. The front end of the compression strut 112 is provided with a clevis 115, the spaced arms of which are shown in Figure 8, these spaced arms being pivoted to the shaft housing 62 or 62A on substantially horizontal pivot studs 116, whereby the pusher strut 112 can have vertical articulation when the gutter broom passes over uneven spots in the pavement, or when the gutter broom is lifted to transport position out of contact with the pavement. Lateral stresses acting on the gutter vbroom are borne by the linkage system shown in Figure 8. An upper link device 120 has its inner end pivoted to the adjacent sill beam 1 or 2 on a substantially horizontal pivot axis 121, and at its outer end this upper link device 120 is provided with a spherical socket 122 in which is pivoted a ball 123 projecting upwardly from the top of the shaft housing 62 or 62A. The lateral stress of forcing the gutter broom into the gutter and against the curb is yieldingly borne by a resilient lower compression strut 125 pivotally connected between the lower end of the shaft housing 62 or 62A and the vehicle frame. Each yieldable compression strut 125 comprises a tubular housing 126 pivoted to the vehicle frame on a horizontal pivot 127 and enclosing a compression spring 12S. A spring plunger 129 slides in the outer end of the tubular housing and reacts against the compression spring. The outer end of this spring plunger is pivoted to the lower portion of the shaft housing 62 or 62A by a horizontal pivot pin 130. It will be seen that the above described mounting links for each gutter broom permit free rising andfalling movement as the broom passes over uneven spots iu the pavement, and also permits free upward movement when the gutter broom is lifted to transport position out of contact with the pavement.

Each gutter broom is provided with an individual lifting and lowering mechanism comprising a chain 61 which has its front end connected to the vertical shaft housing 62 and which then extends rearwardly over chain sheaves 63 and 64 and is connected through link 65 with a hand lever 66 (Figure 1). This hand lever is pivotally mounted ou a pivot pin 67 and comprises a crank arm 66' extending substantially at right angles to the main length of the hand lever, the chain connecting link being pivotally connected to this right angle crank lever 66. It will be seen that when the hand lever 66 is in the lower full line position illustrated, the crank arm 66 is in its lower full line position, corresponding to a lowered position of the associated gutter broom; and when the hand lever 66 is swung upwardly to the dotted line position the crank arm 66' also swings upwardly and pulls forwardlly on the chain 61 for raising the gutter When the sweeper is provided with right and left gutter brooms, each broom will be provided with a separate lifting and lowering lever 66. When performing a sweeping operation, one gutter broom is lowered and the other is raised. When the vehicle is travelling from one point of operation to another, or is carrying a load in transport, both gutter brooms 53 and 54 are raised, and the baffle plate 55 is placed in neutral position, thus raising both exible side walls 56 and 56A of the bale to clear the roadway.

The operations of raising and lowering the rear broom 19, deflector bar 31 and drag wings 33 and 33A, and the operation of swinging the load carrying bottom 49 between dirt receiving, load carrying and dumping positions are controlled by the operation of twin hydraulic control valves 69 and 69A (Figure 3) which are located near the steering wheel 72. The control valve 69 is operated by lever 70, and the control valve 69A is operated by lever 71. The operating arrangement between the control valves and their levers is such that movement of the lever admits oil from valve 69 vinto the two double Y trols thev swinging of the movable load carrying bottom 49 Aand the lifting and lowering of the drag wings 33 and 33A by the'admission of 'oil from valve 69A into the double acting hydraulic cylinder 42, thereby swinging it the movablebottom 49 to the position desired, viz. into V'the loading position for receiving dirt (Figure 3), or

into the transport or carrying position for transporting the load (Figure 4) or into the dumping position for dumping the load (Figure 6). As previously described, the indicating rod 51 is pivotally connected to lever 46 which moves with the swinging bottom 49, whereby the position of the upper end of this rod 51 indicates to the operator the position of movable bottom 49 by the location of the end of the indicating rod in relation to the end plate 8. v

The power plant 4 is operative through clutch 94 to drive the main shaft'74 through the level gear set 92, '93. The propelling speed of the vehicle is controlled by the clutch lever 75 (Figure l), which selectively controls the engagement of the clutches 77, 7S, 79, 80 and '81, as shown in Figure l2, these clutches determining the speed of the drive shaft 76, and hence the speed of the rear wheels 73 of the vehicle, there being four speeds forward obtained by using the clutches 77, 78, 79 and 80, and

therebeing one speed in reverse obtained by using the clutch 81. n

The speed of the gutter brooms 53 and 54 and the speed of the rear broom 19 are independent of the speed of the rear driving wheels 73, and the operation of these brooms is controlled by actuating levers 38 and 89 connected with right and left control clutches 88' and 89 mounted on the outer portions of shaft 74 (Figure 9). If 'the rear broom 19 and only the right hand gutter broom 53 are to be operated, then clutch 88" is engaged. If the left 'hand gutter broom v54 is also to be operated, then clutch 89 is also engaged.

As also illustrated in Figure 9, the hydraulic pump 67 which Vsupplies hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic control cylinders is connected to the power plant 4 by any suitable belt drive or the like. As further illustrated in Figure 9, a water pump '82 is arranged to be driven from power plant 4 under control of a clutch S3 which engages with the intermediate shaft 84 of the transmission mechanism. This water pump S2 supplies water under pressure from the water tank 10 to a spray nozzle arrangement 133 (Figure l) disposed in front of the two gutter brooms 53 and 54.

The rear drive wheels 73, 73 of the vehicle are provided with chain sprockets S5 (Figure 9), and the transmission drive shaft 76 is also provided with chain sprocket pinions 86, over which are trained sprocket chains 87 for transmitting a drive to the propelling wheels.

The rear broom 19 is driven by a line of articulated shafting 134 (Figure l) extending back through drive shaft 27 to the bevel gear set 27 which connects with the stub axle 25 at the right hand end of the rear broom (Figure 9)'. The right and left hand gutter groorns 53 and 54 are driven by lines of articulated shafting 137 and 137A, which connect with the downwardly extending gutter broom shafts 110 through bevel gear sets 111 and 111A in the upper ends of the shaft housings 62 and 62A.

vReferring again to the interaction Vbetween the Vrear broom 19, the delieetor bar 31 and the movable load carrying Ybottom 49, itV will berseen-from Figure 5 that the side edges of the movable bottom 49 are notched at 90 to engage the deector bar arms 28, 28A when the movable bottom 49 is swung yinto `the load carrying posivtion shown in Figure 4. ln this position, the rear edge 91 of the movable bottom 49 engages the lower front v8 l surface of the' V"idear broom 19 to prevent the dirt inthe container 3 from spilling oft the rear edge 91 of the movable bottom 49, Ythe broom not being rotated at this time.

The swinging movement of `the movable bottom 49 into this load carrying position carries the rear broom 19 and deectorbar 31 with it krearwardly and upwardly to the position lshown in Figure 4,'by the action of the notches 9i? striking the deilector bar arms 2S, 23A, thereby swinging these arms and the lifting levers 17, 17A and broom 19 into this load carrying position shown in Figure 4. Y

'ln Figures l and 3, the side drag wings 33, 33A are shown lowered into their loading positions, in vwhich positions these side wings prevent the dirt from spilling "I outwardly. Figure 3 shows a typical'loaded condition of the material receptacle '3 and movable bottom 49 when the material swept by the rear broom 19 has almost lilled the material receptacle. Figure 4 illustrates the transport positions of the drag lwings 33, 33A, the movable bottom` 49, the piston rods 39, 39A and 45, and the rear broom 19, viz. the positions of these parts when the vehicle is transporting the load to a point of dumping, with the movable bottom 49 svmng rearwardly into engagement with the rear broom 19 at a point above thelevel of the deector bar 31, and with the rear broom 19 swung part way up.` lt will be noted that in this transport position, at which time the load should be held against spilling,

the rear broom functions much in the manner of atail Y gate for preventing the loa-d from spilling from the 'movable bottom. Of course, at this time the rear broom 19 is not revolving. n

Referring now to the dumping operation, shown in Figure 6, this is effected by raising the rear broom 19 to its maximum height by operation of the hydraulic cylinders 3d, 36A, and swinging the load carrying bottom 49 forwardly and upwardly by operation of the hydraulic cylin n der 42. Figure 6 shows the positions of the piston rods 39, 39A, their double acting cylinders 36, 36A and the compressed springs 38, 33A, in `effecting such raising or" the rear bro-om, This ligure also illustrates the positions of the double acting cylinder 42, [its piston rod 45 and connected lever 46, and the drag wings 33 and 33A, when the cylinder 42 effects this upward swinging of the movable bottom 49 in the operation of dumping the load.

The illing of water tank 1i? is accomplished through water inlet 95, which communicates down through screen 96 with the interior of the water tank. For ush-ing the inside of the hopper 8 and the Vrear broom 19, a flushing inlet 97 is provided. This inlet is attached to a pipe 9S which passes down through the closed bottom of the water tank 10 and opens at its lower end into a dome-shaped spray outlet 99 secured to the under side of the tank and provided with a plurality of holes 100 directed to spray water horizontally and downwardly lin all directions below the tank 10. This spray discharge is effective to clean sticky dirt from the ldirt receptacle 3. Also, by lowering the rear broom 19 into sweepingposition (Figures l and 3) and allowing it to revolve slowly, the spray discharge from the dome-shaped outlet 99 will strike the forward part of the broom and also the deflector bar 31, so as to clean the broom and deflector bar assembly.

While we have illustrated and described what weregard to be the preferred embodiment of our invention,

' nevertheless it will be understood that such is merely exemplary, and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

We claim:

l. ln a street sweeper, in combination, a self-propelled vehicle frame, an operators station on said frame, a material receptacle having a curved front end and a cur-ved movable bottom, a broom at the rear of said receptacle, means supporting saidmovable bottom on said frame for movement between a forward load Vreceiving position and arearward load transporting position where the rear edge of said bottom is in contact with said broom, means at said operators station to move said movable bottom rearwardly into such transport position with its rear edge in contact with said broom to prevent spillage of the material in said material receptacle when said receptacle is full, and two spring supported hydraulic cylinders, one attached to each side of said material receptacle and each end of said rear broom to permit each end of the rear broom to adjust itself automatically to uneven surfaces in a roadway to sweep the surface clean.

2. In a street sweeper, in combination, a frame supported by wheels for movement, a rear broom and two gutter brooms on said frame, an engine with a clutch and transmission and means to propel said wheels and to rotate said rear broom and said two gutter brooms, a material carrying receptacle having a movable bottom rotatably mounted therein supported by said receptacle, said rotatable rear broom having a material deector with means to maintain a constant relation between said deector and said broom rotatably mounted at the rear of said material receptacle, hydraulic means on the frame to raise and lower the said rear broom and deflector, hydraulic means on the frame operative to move said movable bottom rearwardly into contact with said rear broom when it is desired to transport a collected load of dirt to a point of dumping, an operators station on said frame, and control means at the said operators station to control the movements of the said rear broom, said deector, said movable bottom and said gutter brooms.

3. In a self-propelled sweeper, in combination, a frame, a rotatable'broom and deflector with means to maintain a constant relation between said deeetor and said broom swingably mounted on said frame, a material receptacle with a movable bottom swingably mounted on and supported by the sides of said material receptacle, means mounted on said frame to move said movable bottom rearwardly into engagement with said broom and to thereafter cause said movable bottom and broom to move as a unit into transport position, an operators station on said frame, and control means at the operators station to control the movements of the said broom and deector and the said movable bottom as one unit.

4. In a self-propelled sweeper, in combination, a frame, a rotatable broom and deector swingably mounted at the rear of said frame, a material receptacle for receiving material swept by said broom, said material receptacle comprising a movable bottom swingably mounted on and supported by the sides of said receptacle,

hydraulic means mounted on said sweeper operative to raise and lower the said broom and deflector and operative to move said movable bottom into contact with said broom to cause said broom to hold the dirt on said bottom during transport, an operators station on said frame, and control means at the operators station to control the movement of the said broom and deilector and the said movable bottom to dump material which has been collected in said receptacle.

5. In a street sweeper, in combination, a frame supported for movement, a material receptacle having a movable bottom swingably mounted on said material receptacle, a rotatable broom and a material deflector with means to adjust and maintain a constant relation between said material deector and said broom swingably mounted on said material receptacle, means to rotate said broom and cause material to be delivered into said material receptacle, means mounted on said material receptacle for causing said movable bottom and broom to come into engaging relation and to move substantially synchronously into load transporting position with said broom holding the load on said bottom, an operators station on said sweeper frame, and control means at said operators station to control the synchronized movement of the said broom, material deflector and swinging bot- Lil fit)

tom so as to transport and dump the material collected in the said material receptacle.

6. In a street sweeper of the class described, the combination of a rear broom and a material receptacle receiving dirt therefrom, means or revolving said rear broom, spray means in the upper portion of said material receptacle comprising spray apertures directed to project water into said material receptacle and also directed to project water against said rear broom in the operation of cleaning the material receptacle and broom, said broom being adapted to be rotated in such cleaning operation to subject all portions thereof to the spray from said spray means, and means for supplying water to said spray means.

7. In a street sweeper of the class described,'the combination of a power driven rear broom, a material receptacle adapted to receive dirt therefrom, a deector bar against which said broom is adapted to act for projecting the dirt into said material receptacle, a perforated spray head mounted in the upper portion of said material receptacle and comprising forwardly directed spray apertures adapted to project water into the forward portion of said material receptacle and also comprisingv rear.- wardly directed spray apertures adapted to project water against the front portion of said rear broom and against said deector bar, said rear broom being adapted to be rotated during the spraying operation to subject all portions of the broom to the cleaning action of the spray from said rearwardly directed apertures, and means for supplying water to said perforated spray head.

8. In a street sweeping vehicle of the class described, the combination of a self-propelled vehicle frame, a rotatable broom carried thereby, means for revolving said broom to cause the latter to perform a street sweeping operation, a dirt receiving hopper having a movable bottom adapted to receive the dirt swept up by said broom, said hopper bottom having a loading position in which it receives the dirt from said broom in the sweeping operation, and mechanism for moving said hopper bottom from said loading position into a transport position in contact with said broom preparatory to transporting a collected load of dirt to a point of dumping, in which transport position the rotation of said broom is interrupted and the non-rotating broom functions substantially as a tail gate to close said hopper bottom.

9. In a street sweeper of the class described, the combination of a self-propelled vehicle frame, a rotatable broom carried thereby, means for revolving said rotatable broom, a deilector bar against which the periphery of the broom impinges to project the dirt picked up by the broom, a dirt receiving hopper adapted to receive the dirt projected by said broom, linkage operatively connecting said broom with said deflector bar, lifting mechanism operative to raise and lower said broom and detlector bar, and mechanism for swinging said hopper into contact with said broom at a point above said deector bar preparatory to transporting a collected load of dirt to a point of dumping, in which transport position said broom functions as a tail gate to close said hopper.

l0. In a street sweeper of the class described, the combination of a self-propelled vehicle frame, a rotatable broom carried thereby, means for revolving said rotatable broom, a deflector bar against which the periphery of the broom impinges to project the dirt picked Lp by the broom, a dirt receiving hopper adapted to receive the dirt projected by said broom, linkage operatively connecting said broom with said deflector bar, lifting mechanism operative to raise and lower said broom and deflector bar comprising separate hydraulic cylinders and pistons operatively connected between each end of said broom and said vehicle frame, guide means mounting said cylinders on said vehicle frame for endwise sliding movement, and springs acting on said cylinders lending to slide them endwise in said guide means in a direction operative to sustain part of the weight of said broom,

:sposano Awhereby'either end ofthe broom can rise and Jfall independently of the other end in vsweeping uneven surfaces, and in such rising and falling movement of either end of the broom relatively to the vehicle frame the lcylinder and piston connected to that end move correspondingly.

11. ln a street sweeper of the class described, the combination of a self-propelled vehicle frame, a rotatable broom carried thereby, means for revolving sai-d rotatable broom, a deflector bar against which the periphery of the broom impinges to project the dirt picked up by the broom, a dirt receiving hopper adapted to receive the dirt projected by said broom, linkage operatively connecting said broom with said deliector bar, lifting mechanism operative to raise and lower said broom and delector bar comprising hydraulic cylinders and pistons operatively connected between saidveriicleA frame and broom, means mountingA said cylinders on said vehicle frame Vfor endwise sliding movement, springs acting onV vsaid cylinders in a directionL tending to sustain part 'of the weight of said broom, and transport mechanism for c placing said hopper and broom in transport position for carrying va collected load of dirt to a point of dumping, said latter mechanism swinging the rear edge of said hopper into Contact with said broom at a point above said deiiector bar and causing said broom to swing in an lupward direction with said hopper, said hydraulic cylinders sliding endwise relatively to said vehicle frame when said broom thus lswings upwardly with said hopper.

12.7111 a street sweeper of the class described, the combination of a self-propelled vehicle frame, a drive shaft ldriven fromV a source of power -on said frame, a gutter broom assembly mounted adjacent to one side of Ysaid frame comprising lan upwardly extending shaft, a gutter broorn'monnted on the lower end of said shaft,

and bevel gearing in said gutter broom assembly Ioperatively connecting said drive shaft with said upwardly extending shaft, vertically spaced upperY and lower mounting links pivotally supporting said gutter broom assembly Y on said frame for substantially straight line lifting and lowering movement between a raised non-sweeping posil tion and a lower sweeping position, said upper mounting link establishing a pivotal center above the level of said 12 drive shaft and the bevel gearing of said gutter broom assembly for accommodating inward swinging movement Vof the lower part of the'gutter broom assembly around said pivotal center toward the vehicle frame, and corn,- pression spring means embodied in said lower mounting link and acting in a direction Vsubstantially at right angles to the line of forward travel of the Vgutter broom for absorbing the shock of impact in the event of the gutter broom or lower portion of the gutter'broom lassembly striking laterally against a curby or other obstruction.v

13. ln a street sweeping vehicle, the combination of a vehicle frame, a power plant on said frame, an operators position on said frame, a power driven rotatable rear broom carried by said frame, two VpowerV driven l direction of tilt one of said side Wings lowers into con? References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 526,222 Dessau Sept. r18, 1,789.4 628,616 Stephens e .Tub/11, '1899 983,293 Kundig-Honegger Feb. 7, 1911 1,015,105 Watson Jan. 16, 1912 1,510,880 Aitken Oct. 7, 19,24 2,046,679 Fnrstnow July 7, 1936 2,189,052 Anthony Feb. 6., 1940 2,286,245 1942 Wilson I une 16, 

